Elegance

I have always admired this building that is basically right on the U of Toronto campus. Built in 1888 it has had various uses over the years and now houses a book publisher. It is always well maintained and looks so elegant don't you think?

Contrast

For a short time Casa Loma has been visible from Dupont St but it will soon be disappearing again as this view will be blocked by yet another condo building. I liked the contrast between the old tower at the Casa and the new 'tower' of the construction crane.

Rebirth

 There had been a corner store in this building in a neighbourhood near me. It was run by a very elderly couple who lived upstairs and was really popular with the local kids at lunch time. The store closed a couple of years ago and then a while ago the building was put up for sale. I though that it would be turned into all residential but the purchasers totally renovated the building and opened this nice looking shop a little while ago. I haven't been in yet but this day when I walked by the sign in the door said that they had fresh sourdough bread.  I have to stop in soon.

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Red

While out for a wander I happened upon this great red Karmann Ghia. It looks to be in perfect condition. It would sure be fun to drive around in it for a while.

High

This mural seemed to have appeared overnight as it is in a location that I pass by all the time. On the side of a pot shop it is quite suitable to have a bong as the star of the mural. 

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Presses

I didn't go to many locations during this year's Doors Open but one highlight was visiting the Coach House Press which is located on bpNicholLane near the U of Toronto campus. It is housed in a quirky old building which is packed full of history and stories of the avant-garde. These 2 Heidelberg presses turn out 5,000 sheets an hour and we were given a demonstration of the operation.

Stopping By For A Drink

Just off the edge of my roof deck I have a large saucer of water which acts as a bird bath but more importantly provides water for a fairly large population of birds who come by regularly for a drink. I was just getting ready to fill the saucer up when this Sparrow came by for a fast drink. They love it just after I have filled the water up and it is really cold so I'm sure he will be back soon. 

Taking part in Saturdays Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Welcome

I love the intricate metalwork on this fence leading into Whitney Hall which is one of the residences belonging to University College at U of Toronto. You can walk right through that archway out to St George St.

A Cloister

I did a bit of a wander through the U of Toronto campus on my way to somewhere else and stopped to admire the cloister in the inner quadrangle of University College which is the oldest college at U of T. It is a grand old building and a great place to poke around in but I'm not sure what the free access is like since the pandemic. So many places seem to have changed their rules.

Slow

There were a couple of these guys in front of houses just down the street from a school. They really stood out with that bright green colour and they sure get the message across.

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Sunday Morning Art

 These small free-standing sculptures were spotted in a gallery window on a Sunday morning when galleries are closed so I couldn't get any info on the artist. They have stained glass as inserts in the metal structure to give the nice colours. I really liked them.

Grabbing A Snack

 I spotted this stylized raccoon doing some acrobatics to grab a hot dog while I was wandering about the U of Toronto campus. Toronto is known for the large population of raccoons here so it is quite suitable. 

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Dog Park In The Ravine

This was taken at one of the entry points into the ravine near Casa Loma. That is Spadina crossing over the ravine on that great bridge and the city has chosen this as a good place to put a dog park. It is always cooler down in the ravine so a fun place for the dogs to play.

Can I Have A Ride

I was getting into my car when I noticed a lot of crazy activity in front of it. There was a litter of squirrels bouncing and going wrestling as young ones do. There were 3 black ones and 1 grey one in the group which then all headed towards me with no fear or nervousness at all. The grey one got up along this fence and started looking like it was going to get in the car. I closed the door and took out my camera. They seemed to have no hesitation about approaching a human. Then they all started bouncing and headed up a nearby tree.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

From The Top Of The Stairs

When you reach the top of yesterday's stairs and turn around this is your view looking down along Spadina through the lovely trees of the annex neighbourhood and through downtown until you hit Lake Ontario.  Most of the tourists going to Casa Loma come up this way and then turn around to take this shot with the CN Tower in a starring role.

Going Up

I was walking along Davenport Rd and spotted this guy heading up the stairs to Casa Loma and was impressed by all the greenery around him. There are 110 steps to the top and he is about 25% of the way up. I'll show you the view from up top tomorrow.

Come Lift Some Weights

This gym on Bathurst St has recently added a bright paint job around their door to catch a bit of attention from passing traffic. I was in there for a bit of a tour and they looked like serious weightlifters but really friendly. I didn't sign up. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Curved Symmetry

 I love the symmetry of the balconies on this apartment building found in the Annex neighbourhood. It is one of quite a few apartments designed by architect Uno Prii. You can see more of his work if you click the label below.

A Flowery Laneway

 I spotted this laneway just off St Clair Ave as I drove by and went back the next day to check it out. The whole lane had been painted with murals that combined flowers and also the stylized signatures of the artists. I could not decipher any of those.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

A Ravine Walk

During the hot weather we had just over a week ago it seemed like a good idea to go for a walk in one of the many ravines there are around the city. I chose one that is near Casa Loma and is well treed so I knew it would be cool down there. This is the view looking up one side of the ravine making you think that you are out in the wilderness but at the top of the hill you are in the back gardens of the multi million dollar homes in the neighbourhood. And I saw none of the coyotes that have been sighted there.

What A Duck!

I'm having some fun this week for Saturday Critters. I was walking through the U of Toronto campus along Harbord St  on a Sunday morning when I saw a giant duck approaching me on the other side of the street. I couldn't believe my eyes and quickly managed to get my camera out of my bag and shot a pic before the creature flew away. I have no idea where it was heading but it was really on a mission. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

What A View

This is my favourite view of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) which really shows the hand of Frank Gehry at work. This is taken from in Grange Park which is directly behind the gallery and was probably a place where Gehry played as a child.  I love the blue titanium and that wonderful staircase projecting out of the wall.

Gehry Curves

 This is the front facade of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario). The ladies I showed you yesterday were walking under the overhang to the entrance. This curved area is part of the Frank Gehry designed redo of the gallery which took place in 2004. Behind the curves is a wonderful bright space the Galleria Italia. Gehry grew up just a couple of blocks from the gallery so it is nice that he got to put his own stamp on it. I'll show a bit more tomorrow.

Shop At The AGO

While wandering around near the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) I saw these women coming towards me along the walkway and had to catch a shot of that orange outfit. I love it! They were heading into the gallery to see an exhibition. More from this area tomorrow. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Taking Down The Crane

I often wondered how they remove the crane after a condo has been built and now have the answer - they bring in another crane to do it. This mid rise building has reached its top so a mobile crane was brought in and the building's crane was removed in sections and put onto flatbed trucks. The scary part for me was watching the 2 guys crawling around on the sections of the old crane to attach the cables. Not a job I would do for anything in the world. You can see them in the upper middle of the shot.

Happy Cat

This happy "Cat in the Hat" was spotted on the side of a coffee shop. It looks as if the cat is doing a bit of mural painting himself. The artist signature is Chuck.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Pretty Pansies

I loved the soft purple tones of this patch of Pansies that I spotted near Casa Loma. They looked so cheerful.

Happy Bee

When passing by a large patch of Alium blooms in a front garden I noticed that almost every flower had a bee buzzing around it. They were a happy group indeed. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Spring Day At The Park

This is a shot looking in the other direction from yesterday's pic. I was in Grange Park which is located directly behind the Art Gallery Of Ontario (AGO) and beside the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD). OCAD features that wonderful addition suspended over the older traditional building which you see in the background. The architect for the addition was Will Alsop. I love it.

June Theme: Smile

The June theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Smile. For this one I happened upon this photo shoot taking place in a local park. Both the photographer and the subject were smiling at each other and that is what you do for a camera - you smile. 

Taking part in the theme Smile. Click HERE to see more smiles from around the world.